New US visa and immigration bill would deny ‘birthright citizenship’

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A new US Visa and immigration bill has been proposed in Arizona, one that would deny automatic citizenship to all children born in the United States.

A new bill in Arizona would would deny automatic citizenship to all children born in the United States.

Currently, all children born in the US are given US citizenship automatically, even if their parents in the country illegally without a US Visa.

One of the bill’s sponsors, State Representative John Kavanagh, said he believes "birthright citizenship" comes from a misinterpretation of the 14th amendment, which was put in place after the Civil War to guarantee citizenship and legal protections for former slaves.

The citizenship clause reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

Mr Kavanagh said if the meaning of the amendment relates to sole allegiance, the children of illegal immigrants naturally owe their allegiance to their parents' country and not the United States.

"Dispensing citizenship like a door prize even to people who snuck into the back door is poor policy and greatly increases the costs of educating, medicating and giving other benefits to the children of illegal aliens born here."

Kavanagh said if the measure passes he hopes a court fight will clarify the 14th amendment.

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